Front Porch Radio - History's Hook

On this episode, we continue our look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks holding various field and staff commands including company, battalion, and brigade commands with the 101st Airborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served three tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving in over 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as military assistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commander for the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a major general, Gen. Hickman is now senior advisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisis management, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching and leader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

On this episode, we look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks holding various field and staff commands including company, battalion, and brigade commands with the 101st Airborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served three tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving in over 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as military assistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commander for the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a major general, Gen. Hickman is now senior advisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisis management, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching and leader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

Centenarian Cecil Whiteside, WWII Naval VeteranMr. Cecil Whiteside has spent most of his life in Hampshire, Tennessee with the exception of the years 1942-1945, when he was a member of the Navy Armed Guards, protecting cargo ships as they transported men and materiel all over the world.  Join Tom and Dr. Gidcomb as they speak to Mr. Whiteside and his son Jeff, who has documented the life of a remarkable Tennessean.

In the summer of 1977, forty-two people perished in the worst jail fire in Tennessee’s history. The tragedy garnered national news attention and led to many new laws pertaining to jail safety. Author Cindy Tinsley talks about the tragedy, heroism, and how her research culminated in a book, “Tragedy in Small Town Tennessee.”

He wasn’t born near the sea.  He didn’t attend the United States Naval Academy, yet Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett has had a stellar naval career.  From piloting P-3’s during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he held several staff positions before taking command of several Navy Regions.  Now in charge of thousands of sailors and trillions of dollars in naval assets, he commands Navy Region Hawaii.  Join Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan as they learn lessons in leadership from Columbia, Tennessee’s own Admiral Stephen Barnett.